Mike Martz walks out on the Lions; Martz leaves practice in anger.

[BuckWrestler141]

I just heard on the NFL network that Martz got [censored]ed off at practice and left. I wonder if he took a look at the players and said "F" this, these guys suck.

[BuckBackHome]

Well, considering the Lions are in trouble with the League because of their actions at camp last month I am not surprised. I have no idea how Matt Millen keeps his job.

[LoKyBuckeye]

LINK

Analysis: Martz throws first fit, but Marinelli still wields control

Thursday, May 04, 2006
By Tom Kowalski
ALLEN PARK - Rod Marinelli was prepared for this.

Marinelli, the Detroit Lions head coach, wasn't bothered when offensive coordinator Mike Martz got upset and walked out of the team's facility Tuesday afternoon.

According to several sources close to the situation, Martz was irritated by something - no one contacted for this story is exactly sure what that was - but Martz was angry. There wasn't a lot of drama or angst, Martz just decided to leave. He was back at his desk Wednesday morning and everything is fine. For now.

Welcome to Rod Marinelli's world.

When Marinelli interviewed Martz for the job back in January, it took Marinelli more than a week to make his decision to hire him because Marinelli had a lot of things to think about. On the plus side, he was getting one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL. Since Martz was hired, nearly every person in the Lions organization has used the word "genius" in describing him. His knowledge of offensive football is unmatched - at least by anyone employed by the Lions in the last several decades.

However, there's also the negative side. Martz can be overbearing, rude, unpredictable, selfish, pushy and extremely volatile. It was the "genius" part that won over Marinelli. That, and his refusal to accept anything less than 100 percent in terms of technique, execution and hustle.

Martz won a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams and he went back to one as the team's head coach. He's very set in his ways and has an unyielding belief in his way of doing things. But that doesn't always mesh with what Marinelli believes and here's where the problems begin to boil.

Marinelli made it clear to Martz from the beginning that there would only be one voice in the Lions organization and it would belong to Marinelli. Still, Marinelli knew that he would have some power struggles with Martz in how to operate the offense, not so much in terms of the playbook and the installation, but in how it would be done. Marinelli is a stickler for beginning with the basics and building a foundation and moving slowly forward. Martz wants touchdowns and he wants them right now.

From the day he was hired, Marinelli's approach has been one of intensity, but with patience, too. The only promise he makes is that the Detroit Lions will be a better team, more fundamentally sound, smarter and better conditioned. Martz, on the other hand, walks through the halls of the practice facility and -- this is true - says things like "Touchdown, Lions. Touchdown, Lions" and "Line 'em up and let's go for two (points)."

Martz has no patience and zero tolerance. If he's not happy, then everybody around him is not happy.

Speaking of unpredictable, here's the part of Martz that Marinelli really likes. During the recent voluntary minicamp, the offensive players were attending an early evening meeting when a suddenly irate Martz demanded that they go back on the field. Upset with the team's seven-on-seven passing drill earlier in the day, Martz wanted all of his players to go through the plays again.

The players thought their day was winding down, but Martz made them suit up again and hit the practice field. That part of Martz didn't bother Marinelli, either.

As the season approaches, though, there are going to be more clashes between Marinelli and Martz, but Marinelli is convinced that the unorthodox Martz has his heart and motives in the right place - he just wants to score and to win … and then score some more.

It takes a mentally tough head coach to put up with a personality like that and Marinelli isn't intimidated by the task. In fact, as long as that offense puts up points, he'll embrace it.

[BB73]

I've always thought that Martz was better suited to be an offensive coordinator than a head coach.

But whether his ego can handle that is another story.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Analysis: Martz throws first fit, but Marinelli still wields control

...

According to several sources close to the situation, Martz was irritated by something - no one contacted for this story is exactly sure what that was - but Martz was angry. There wasn't a lot of drama or angst, Martz just decided to leave.

Doesn't sound like much of a fit, does it?

[Kueller]

Well, it sounds like Marinelli expected some of this when he hired Martz. If he can deal with it and Martz gets results on the field I'm not going to complain. Actually, as a lion's fan I won't complain about anything that gets results on the field. I mean, can things really get any worse than they've been the last 5 years?